3 Great Combat Tools You're Not Using (Yet!) 

If you're using Excel (or Google Sheets) and want to automatically change the color of the enemy's HP depending on how much remains like is mentioned in the video, you don't need to write any JavaScript-use "Conditional Formatting" in the menu of the software you're using. It's super easy to use even for people who aren't very tech savvy.

I use those colourful pipe cleaners instead of a wooden measuring stick. They're lighter and flexible in case you wanna measure bends or tie them together.

an easier way is write names in the A columb, Initiative in the B columb, starting HP in the C columb, and resulting HP in the D columb. Also, have your enemy names in red. then, use a feature called Conditional Formating to make the fill of D2 turn red when the value is at most half C2 and Black when the value is 0, then format the whole row to fill black when D2 is black.

I learned to love measuring sticks when we used a piece of Warhammer terrain for an encounter about 10 years back. So easy, so useful.

Love your content! You deserve way more views!

The glass beads on the map (2:41) look like dragon quest slimes xD.

I've used templates and dow rods before. Hell, for a new game I'm working on, I was going to use a piece of string attached to a tiny toy for the weapon representing it's range (a tiny bow or pistol for example) and maybe color the string 3 basic colors for short, medium, and long range. It makes ranged combat easier but also helps you figure in obstructions to your line of sight!

+1 for using Excel or Google Sheets, I built and copied some sheets to help me DM as well (including an encounter builder to tell me how hard an encounter would be according to the DMG, yeah, I'm fairly new to DM'ing)

I like to use Game Master 5 its really handy for writing up your whole game and building encounters right on your tablet. its only a few bucks but its so worth it. It has most of the monster stat blocks and you can even add more to it. Also you can customize your own monsters. My favorite thing about it is the hit point calculator. Shows a little health bar like in a video game.

For distance, I use a string with 2 pencils on the end. the string has marks every inch.

I use a tailor’s tape for distances - you can get THREE on amazon prime for 7 bucks. For minis/ counters I use 1” washers, with a dot of blue goop you use to hang posters (it was $1 at the dollar store). I use graphics software to do sheets with monster pictures, scaled to 1” squares. It’s nice because I’m slowly amassing a lot of saved sheets. I tack on the 1” photos which are quick to cut out with a scissors, and they are disposable after. I like your clear bead idea, and you gave me the idea to do a sheet of status counters, like “poisoned” “prone” etc as well as spiritual weapon, or important items as utility type counters. Thanks!

So much energy. Love it.

Gezzer here Yep a measuring stick is handy dandy, we always used a tape measure. Babbles, again uasefull, we always used anything at hand for counters and never had issues with immersion. Yep, I have always been a geek and proud of it. Kind of hate to think anyone out there needs to be reminded of the multitude of benefits to making use and best use of tools at hand. Kind have to cringe on that. Guess I am among the few that can remember the horror of Windows (I mean that first release), anyone with a functional lap top that does not use it has me wondering.

I've been collecting bottle caps and rings for over a year, possibly inspired by Matt Mercer. I can't tell if I watched a bit of Critical Role here and there, noticed and got the idea in my head from there or not. But either way, I recently had a new idea of how to use them... If I ran the game, I could give a player a bottle cap, and then put the matching ring around the base of their mini, or a stand in if they don't have a mini, or even use the ring itself or another bottlecap of the same color and shade to represent their character. That way I and other players can tell who's character is where, and who each character belong's too. If I have a creature make an attack on a player character, I can see in an instant which player I should address when resolving the attack. Even if I never run a game again, I might bring at least one set, for my own character, and perhaps a few extra, if someone else would like to try it.

Another great DMing tool is OneNote, from the Microsoft Suite... I thiiiiink it's native on most PCs, but I could be wrong. It basically allows for a lot of organized folders, it's highly customizable with inclusion of links, videos, images, etc. You can also create many different text zones on the same page, which extends as much as you want/need. It's just great for world building and note-taking, tbh.

these are truly amazing ideas!!!

Love the zebra stick, I’m definitely using that! 👏

Goodluck in BioChem!

Don't shame us pencil and paper DMs!

Good list but I try not to use the computer except for pre-game Have you been to UCon?

Great channel. WorldAnvil is a great gym tool too.

BRILLIANT!

Still roll with Index Cards lol though I keep notes and work on my campaign on my laptop, but not when I'm actually DMing. I print it all out and keep notes at the table on large index cards. \m/

Excel is the best!

Ah. These are cool ideas, but they're all tailored to in person play, and nothing here is useful to folks who need to play online.